Special Meeting of the New Britain Common Council – March 26, 2025
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Special Meeting of the New Britain Common Council – March 26, 2025
The New Britain Common Council held a special meeting on March 26, 2025, to consider three bonding resolutions totaling over $204 million. After public testimony urging action on stormwater flooding, the council approved all three items, with amendments to the capital improvements package to redirect funds toward the Allen Street reconstruction project. All votes were unanimous (15-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Robert (first speaker): Described five major rain events in 2024 causing flooding on Allen, Hampton, and Roxbury streets. Urged the council to consider bonding as a reliable option instead of relying on uncertain state funding, noting that state policy uncertainties could delay the Allen Street project. Expressed support for using bonding to spread costs over time.
- Carol Austin (resident, 38 Wellington Street): Shared personal experience of basement flooding despite investing thousands in her home. Pleaded with the council to prioritize stormwater improvements and not rely solely on state intervention. Asked, “Why is this still unresolved?” and warned that inaction sends a message that the city does not care for its citizens.
- Dave DeFranzo (State Representative, 26th District): Spoke in support of additional funding for the Allen Street Reconstruction Project. Explained the state bonding process and noted that the state delegation has made this project their number one priority. Argued that the city’s prior $4.2 million allocation was a good first step, and that any additional city resources would help the state case. Urged small changes to the bonding agenda to improve the city’s position.
- Don Naples (former Alderman, 143 Fairway Drive): Spoke in favor of the White Bridge Wellfield project, noting it is a state loan, not a bond. Asked the council to “take care of your descendants” as ancestors did with the water system.
- Paul Canzero (250 Hillhurst Avenue): Spoke in favor of all bonding items, including the waterworks, park projects (Willow Street, Walnut Hill, Martha Hart dredging, Willowbrook Park parking), and school projects. Argued that if the city can add funding for Allen Street, it should, because the state may not bond. Urged the council to try.
Discussion Items
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School Projects – $157,500,000 Appropriation and Bond Authorization (Item 1 & 2)
- Alderman Smedley moved to accept the report and then to act on the resolution. The item passed unanimously (15-0). No discussion; the public had noted 95% reimbursement for Smith School.
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White Bridge Waterworks Facility – $40,900,000 Appropriation and Bond Authorization (Item 3 & 4)
- Mr. Amenta (Public Works) explained the project: a 2% state loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, with a $4.5 billion grant component. The facility provides backup potable water and will be raised above 500-year flood levels. It does not affect property taxes or bonding capacity.
- Alderman McNamara offered a friendly amendment to condition the authorization on the mayor’s receipt of a project loan agreement from the state. The amendment passed voice vote.
- Alderwoman Beloin-Saavedra emphasized the importance of backup drinking water and that the loan is paid from the water enterprise fund, not property taxes. The resolution as amended passed 15-0.
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Various Capital Improvements – $6,300,000 Appropriation and Bond Authorization (Item 5 & 6)
- Alderman Santiago moved to amend the resolution by striking the Walnut Hill Park Paving Project ($1.625 million) and the Willowbrook Park Paving Project ($1.95 million), reducing the total to $2.725 million. The amendment passed voice vote.
- Discussion: Alderman Santiago stated the city must prioritize and that the freed-up funds will be discussed at a special meeting on April 16 for the Allen Street project. Alderman Smedley noted the school bonding maxes out the city’s credit card space. Alderman McNamara confirmed the April 16 meeting for bonding on Allen Street (phase two, Oak Street to Beacon Street, to meet the $14 million price tag). Alderman Gibson supported the Willow Street park project in Ward 3. Alderwoman Beloin-Savedra noted that Ward 3 and Ward 1 parks have received the least attention. Alderwoman Scott stressed urgency for Allen Street flooding as a health and safety crisis. Alderman Simpson expressed regret over foregoing park projects but supported the amendment to potentially fund Allen Street.
- The resolution as amended passed 15-0.
Key Outcomes
- Approved: $157,500,000 bond authorization for school projects (Smith School reconstruction) – unanimous (15-0).
- Approved: $40,900,000 appropriation and bond authorization for White Bridge Waterworks facility – conditioned on mayor’s receipt of a state loan agreement – unanimous (15-0).
- Approved: $2,725,000 (amended down from $6,300,000) for various capital improvements – covering Willow Street Park, Walnut Hill Paving (removed), Martha Hart Pond dredging, and other projects – unanimous (15-0).
- Next Step: A special meeting scheduled for or about April 16, 2025, to consider bonding for the Allen Street reconstruction project (phase two, Oak Street to Beacon Street), using the $2.725 million freed up by the amendment and additional funds to meet the $14 million cost.
- The meeting adjourned at 7:40 PM, with the regular meeting to follow.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to the special meeting of the Common Council. We begin as usual with public participation. We are discussing three resolutions pertaining to bonding tonight. So remarks should be limited to bonding by the city. Last year, New Britain experienced five major rain events that resulted in significant flooding on Allen, Hampton, and Roxbury streets. This persistent issue poses a nuisance and a long-term threat to the structural integrity of homes and the well-being of the affected residents. The financial burden of repeated repairs and the potential health hazards associated with mold and dampness underscore the urgency of addressing this infrastructure deficiency. It might be unwise to depend on the state for financing this crucial infrastructure project. Due to policy uncertainties, the state of Connecticut is unsure of funding allocations for highway, education, and Medicare grants. The process for the next state budget will likely be challenging with various competing priorities and limited funds available. This uncertainty could delay or even jeopardize the necessary support for the Allen Steep project, leaving the affected areas vulnerable to further damage. By not considering bonding as a viable financing option, the council risks exacerbating the current problems. Bonding offers a more immediate and reliable source of funds, enabling the city to undertake the necessary improvements promptly. It allows for spreading the cost over an extended period, making it more manageable for the city's budget while ensuring that critical infrastructure projects like the Allen Street Project are not indefinitely postponed. That's my comments. Thank you for the time. Thank you, Robert. Our next speaker is Carol Austin. Thanks for letting me speak. I know it's difficult to make decisions that can't please everyone all of the time. But my name is Carol Ostad, and I live at 38 Wellington Street in New Britain, Connecticut. I came here tonight because I think there is an item that's missing from the bonding agenda that is addressing the stormwater improvements on Allen Street and elsewhere. The ongoing threat of property damage, public safety, and health will continue. Our city can no longer put these infrastructure upgrades at the bottom of the list. I'm a newly retired professor from Central, where I taught for 37 years. I bought my house at 38 Wellington Street years ago. I could have chosen to live elsewhere, but I chose New Britain because I believe this city, uh I've lived in this city, and I wanted to contribute to making it a place that people were proud to call home. Over the years, my husband and I worked tirelessly to maintain and improve our property. Little by little, as finance is allowed, we made our home and its grounds into something that we and passerbys would enjoy. Neighbors often stop to admire the flowers, the trees, the lawn, and told me they look forward to seeing the zinnias blooming every year when I plant them. But we invested not only in the beauty of our home, but in its stability. It's not stable anymore. Our basement was dry for five or more years, but little by little the flooding became disastrous. We had to choose between upgrading our property or flooding. After frittering away thousands of dollars on our hard-earned money, the flooding problem persists. So today I'm asking you plainly, why is this still unresolved? I'm pleading with you, you elected officials to set politics aside and to do the right thing. Of course, parks and parking lots are important. I love them. But there are priorities. If the council can't address the basic needs of longtime citizens like myself, if you choose to ignore and belittle community activists who have appropriately brought this to your attention, if the safety and welfare of residents in flood-prone areas are being ignored and not prioritized, then what message are you sending to us? Your vote not to care for flooded citizens makes it impossible for me to proudly say that New Britain is a city that listens, that cares, and takes care of its people. Should I tell my colleagues and others who come to work in the New Britain area not to buy property here because of the chronic flooding and lack of response by city officials? Is that what we're going to have to come to? So you have the power to fix this. You can show that this council is responsive, responsible, and willing to put the health and safety of its citizens first. Please reconsider. Don't wait for state intervention. Don't pass this off to someone else. Act now.
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